The IMPORTED ENGLISH Orpington Thread

[Faraday40]

7. Lemon Blue Bantam Cochins

Didn't know you were a cochin-person too. Are you also keeping them around for broodies? I adore my silkies, but can't stand their feet. (mud clumps get stuck to their feathers) That's why I love my bantam orp. Same sweetness of the silkie, adorable round body of the cochin, a broody queen, and NO poopy feet! Cookie hangs with my laced orps. I got very upset when the lav tried to breed her! Awesome knows better.

I've got three cages outside with chicks and started birds, a tub of chicks indoors, and four large empty breeding/chick cages. I set 146 eggs last Friday. I've lost my mind.

Yep.

 

[ColtHandorf]

Didn't know you were a cochin-person too. Are you also keeping them around for broodies? I adore my silkies, but can't stand their feet. (mud clumps get stuck to their feathers) That's why I love my bantam orp. Same sweetness of the silkie, adorable round body of the cochin, a broody queen, and NO poopy feet! Cookie hangs with my laced orps. I got very upset when the lav tried to breed her! Awesome knows better.

I'm not really? Amanda had them and I kept them because they are just sooo sweet. The Silkie is not sweet. He's a little b-hole. The Satins (and bantam EE and bantam non-standard Cochin) were recent additions last month. They were just too cute to pass up and since I've not had much luck with Seramas this year, I was hoping they could hatch more chicks for me.

I'm on the hunt for some Cookies of my own. lol I need them.

 

[rayrose]

I'd love to see pics of a blue laced & lavender laced orp.
Didn't know they existed. Some people get to have all the fun.

 

[Faraday40]

This is "Stormy" my breeder hen this year.

This was my 1st blue SLO = "Blizzard"

 

[ADPNRSP]

This is "Stormy" my breeder hen this year.
View attachment 2583888View attachment 2583890


This was my 1st blue SLO = "Blizzard"
View attachment 2583892View attachment 2583893

These two are STUNNING!!!

 

[Faraday40]

These two are STUNNING!!!

Thank you. I hope to hatch some more this summer. I gave @homeschoolin momma some of my extras. She has more space at her place, so she took in some of my "back-ups" in case predator, illness, tragedy, etc. happens here. I've been breeding English orps since 2014 and I'd hate to have to start all over. It's like my flock - south.

I also have a my flock - north (friend in Wisconsin). I'm hoping to work with @ColtHandorf on setting up a my flock - southwest. Can't have too many back-ups, right?

 

[snood dude]

This thread is to post pictures and discuss the beautiful English Orps. Please, no discussion on APA standards, auctions, etc. We just want to see pictures and talk about this beautiful eye candy.

Winston and Clementine are our English Blue Orpingtons that we imported last year. I took some photos today of their oldest chicks, The O's (Olympia and Octavia), Hagrid, Rumples, and Bluebell, and thought I would share.

Bluebell - she is such a pretty little girl

Hagrid

Hagrid and Octavia

Hagrid and Olympia

Rumples

The Three Butts - Hagrid and The O's

The O's, Bluebell, and Hagrid

The O's, Hagrid, and Rumples

The O's

Olympia

Rumples and Bluebell - I love this picture

The O's

Octavia - I think she is absolutely stunning, if I do say so myself.

My favorite color orpington is chocolate and red.

 

[rayrose]

This is "Stormy" my breeder hen this year.
View attachment 2583888View attachment 2583890


This was my 1st blue SLO = "Blizzard"
View attachment 2583892View attachment 2583893

If you ever decide to ship eggs, please put me on the list.

 

[ColtHandorf]

I'm hoping to work with @ColtHandorf on setting up a my flock - southwest.

Yes!!! I can't wait to swap some bloodlines. (And get some Blue Silver-laced that are further along.) lol

I did some candling last night and the Chocolate Orp fertility is 100%. BBS has been between 90-100%. The Silver-laced had been between 75-80% but last night they were running about 50%. I think now that all the hens and pullets have started (12 hens) plus the five White hens that were in the pen since the male died during the snowstorm we got proved to be more hens than two males could cover. I'm hoping that by putting the Whites in with the Lavender Silver-laced Cockerel to make splits will help with their fertility.

 

[Faraday40]

Yes!!! I can't wait to swap some bloodlines. (And get some Blue Silver-laced that are further along.) lol

I did some candling last night and the Chocolate Orp fertility is 100%. BBS has been between 90-100%. The Silver-laced had been between 75-80% but last night they were running about 50%. I think now that all the hens and pullets have started (12 hens) plus the five White hens that were in the pen since the male died during the snowstorm we got proved to be more hens than two males could cover. I'm hoping that by putting the Whites in with the Lavender Silver-laced Cockerel to make splits will help with their fertility.

That's great!

I had never seen any fertility issues - until my SLO. My orig flock was 8 hens + an EE cockerel. Those poor girls were always bald-backed! He melted and turned into putty with my daughter. She could do anything to him. When outside he led & protected the flock, but he couldn't go more than 5-10 min without mating a hen. LOL He also crowed nonstop all day. We gave him away and then got into Orpingtons.

My lavs & blacks have pretty much been great roosters. They do all the things roosters should do, only crow a little in the morning (or when there's trouble), and are docile. We need our roosters to be safe around little kids & other animals. We also need to be able to just bend down and pick them up without running away. Other than the occasional butt cuts, I often have 100% fertility.

My SLOs are practically dog-like. In fact, we had one named Puppy. They're incredible..... BUT they seem to take forever to fertilize the hens. Awesome didn't even attempt to mate or crow until 8 months old. It wasn't until he was 12+ months old that his hens laid fertile eggs. Mr Awesome is the alpha roo, but he only gets 3 hens (plus Cookie) in his pen. I still don't have 100% SLO fertility!!!!

My current lav cockerel has his orp hens, plus the rest of the flock. He keeps himself busy chasing females, but he learned it's too dangerous to mate the old hens or Trouble (our Sebright). Trouble is in her own category. She does what she wants, and all the other chickens leave her alone. She has no problem taking on a 12lb rooster - and winning. She also likes to crow when she's broody. It lets the others know she's coming, so they may get out of her way.